Tudor Grange School

Tudor Grange School was established in Solihull in the late 1950s as a Boys' Grammar School.

Tudor Grange Grammar School began as an entity at Lode Heath School, Lode Lane, in September 1951, with two mixed classes 1G1&1G2. The formative school continued with these temporary arrangements until the new boys' school in Dingle Lane was opened in September 1956, the official ceremony taking place on Tuesday July 23 1957. The cost of building the new premises is reported to have been £176,445. Six hundred boys were taught at the school whose motto was 'Omnibus prodesse' - 'to be of service to all men'

In addition to the established Lode Heath School contingent, the new intake also included boys from Sharman's Cross Secondary Modern School. Subsequent entries were drawn from boys passing the 11+ exam together with a very small number passing a 13+ exam.

The original uniform of the school comprised a black blazer with school badge on the breast pocket, a white shirt, a school tie in stripes of black gold and silver, a black cap with school badge and black lace-up leather shoes. 1st and 2nd year boys wore grey shorts whilst older boys were allowed to wear grey flannel trousers. 6th formers wore a slightly more flamboyant tie whilst prefects wore a cap with a gold stripe.

The original Headmaster was Mr A. R. Munday, M.A, Cantab. (Sometime scholar of St Catharine's College) who later left to become Headmaster of the King's School, Chester, in 1964.

His first Lieutenant, or senior master, was one Leonard (Olly) Ardern who, despite his brusque manner, was actually a 'softie' who tried to see the best in everyone. He left in the summer of 1962 and was replaced by Mr G.W. (Gerry) Painter.

Amongst some of the visionary masters at this time was Mr Arthur Bowden who taught maths, but more notably had the enthusiasm to have a small astronomical observatory built in the grounds, although he also famously declared in 1958 that it was "mathematically impossible for any space-craft to leave the gravitational pull of the earth ".

After the construction of the boys' school, a school for girls was built next door. The two schools had playing fields which shared a common boundary, greatly adding to the enthusiasm for outdoor sports in both schools.

Alumni

* Martin Baggott - lead guitar in The Applejacks pop group
* David Jamieson - Member of Parliament
* Simon Fowler - lead vocalist and acoustic guitarist in Ocean Colour Scene.
* The Rt Reverend Dr Peter R. Forster - The Bishop of Chester
* Justin King - Chief Executive of J Sainsbury Plc
* James Jones, Author
* David Rachel - Rowing Professional at Eton College

The school today

Now known as 'Tudor Grange Secondary School', it is a mixed 11-16 comprehensive school with a pupil roll of around 1250. Including both buildings from the girls' and boys' school (now known as the Upper and Lower buildings), it is a technological college with highly regarded facilities, high academic achievement and an excellent reputation for behaviour. In the latest GCSE result statistics (2006), Tudor Grange was ranked 13th out of all comprehensive schools in the country.For more information, see the school website: http://www.tudor-grange.solihull.sch.uk/

Recently added to the school was a new block dedicated to teaching the International Baccalaureate Diploma. A new gym has also been built as one of the two old gyms has been turned into a large classroom known as the 'Lead Lesson Suite'